Hints for a Successful Interview

Interviews are your chance to meet with an employer and discuss the position in more detail. If you are fortunate enough to be invited to an interview, it means that CCGT are considering you to join our team of dedicated apprentices and trainees. It is your opportunity to convince CCGT, or one of our host employers, that you are the best person for the position. You want to “stand out” during our interview process – but make sure you are remembered for all of the right reasons! Here are some useful tips to make sure you create the best impression!

1. 1 Dress for Success

   You may not be required to “dress up” on the worksite, particularly if you are entering a career in the trade industry, however, when attending an interview neat and tidy attire will demonstrate to an employer that you are prepared to make an effort to secure the position. Collared shirts and dress trousers are always winners, with some candidates opting for ties and blazers. Remember, conservative is the key. For the ladies, do not wear skirts that are too short; you want to be comfortable in an interview. Trousers or knee-length skirts are always flattering options. Keep make-up and jewellery to a minimum. Too much can become distracting in an interview.

   If you have piercings, it is best to remove them for an interview if possible. Again, they too can become distracting, and some employers may even see piercings as an Occupational Health and Safety risk.

2. 2 Research, Research, Research

   An easy way to impress an interviewer, either from CCGT or one of our host employers, is to research! Find out as much as you can about the job itself, the subsequent TAFE course and the organisation you would be involved in. This shows an employer the extra effort you went to in order to gain the position. From our experience, most employers will ask you, “what do you know about our Company?” or “what do you think you would learn in this industry?” The more knowledge you can display at this stage, the more chance you will have of your application progressing. Look up the company’s website online – it will usually tell you heaps about the organisation and how they operate.

3. 3 Be Prepared

   Take a few moments to think about the types of questions you may be asked in an interview; and more importantly, what the best answers could be. If you are looking for some practice, you can ask family, friends or even your school career advisor to interview you for practice. The more preparation you put in, the easier the interview will seem to be.

4. 4 Portfolio

   At CCGT, we will ask you to bring your portfolio with you to the interview. The best portfolios include your cover letter, resume, last school report, awards, certificates and written references for you to present at an interview. Keep them neatly in a folder and in chronological (date) order with your most recent certificates first.

5. 5 Be Early

   Always arrive 10 minutes early for an interview.

6. 6 Eye Contact

   Try and maintain eye contact throughout your interview. It shows an employer that you are interested in what they have to say. Bad eye contact can be off-putting to an interviewer as they may interpret it as disinterest, rudeness or poor manners.

7. 7 Listen to the questions

   Nerves can play a big part in the way you behave in an interview. It is OK to be nervous and in fact, it will show an employer, just how much you want the position. Don’t let your nerves rule the outcome of the interview. Listen to exactly what the interviewer is asking you. If you didn’t hear the question correctly, or are unsure of what the question means, ask them to repeat or explain the question further. You will not be penalised for this and it is better to be clear on the question to enable you to provide the best answer you can.

8. 8 THINK about your answers

   Interviews are not a race to the finish line. Take your time to think about the best way you can answer the question. Again, don’t let nerves get the better of you! Take a moment to plan your answer in your mind first, it will prevent you from going “off track” or losing focus with your answer.

9. 9 Don’t be afraid to ask questions

   Remember, interviews are also your opportunity to discuss the position in more detail. It may be the last meeting you have before the interviewer will be making their decision. If there are any aspects of the position that you wish to clarify, don’t be afraid to ask now. You will not be disadvantaged for asking a question, in fact, the employer will see that you are really serious about this career.

10. 10 Ask for feedback

    Securing your perfect career is competitive, and not everyone can be successful. If you were not selected for the position, it doesn’t mean that you should give up. It just means that someone had that extra edge over your application this time. It could be that they had an additional qualification, skill or experience; or they may have performed stronger through the interview process. At CCGT, we believe in helping you at every step of the way until you secure your dream career, and we welcome you to contact us if you wish to receive feedback in improving your interview techniques or producing a stronger application. If you see another career opportunity – go for it! Practice makes perfect!

Not what you were looking for? Contact CCGT to ask more questions.